[Giving] Max arrives loaded down with wrapped gifts and leftover baked goods. His birthday party was only the day before (which is part of why he insisted presents weren't necessary) so he's using this as a great excuse to clear out the rest of the cakes that didn't get eaten. Still pretty tuckered out from all his birthday fun, he's content to sit in the warm glow of friends all around him enjoying good drinks and exchanging warm wishes for the year ahead. This, he thinks to himself happily, has been the best year yet. The one ahead looks even more promising.
[ooc: Max has so many friends and people he loves and he 100% got something nice for all of them so please for my sanity can we handwave the gift exchange? If characters have any positive CR with him at all, they got a thing. That, or Max asked what their favorite dessert was and gave that to them as the gift.]
[Mourning] He walks in silence among the rest carrying a candle. His mind turns over and over thinking of what's happened. There are so many things to mourn and yet... tonight he feels more hopeful than sad. He spoke to his sister. He got to tell her the truth, finally. She understood. She even forgave him. That's one loss he finally feels at peace with. This time, at least, he got to say goodbye.
That isn't the only old grief he can finally put to bed. All the guilt he's carried for killing Erik's sister has gone. It's become something new but it isn't grief. He isn't sorry anymore. He never should have been in the first place.
Finally, there's Erik, himself. He never imagined his new life would include rekindled friendship with his once Master. Standing up for himself and his relationship with Erik has been the most challenging thing yet, but this still feels right. This is what he wants. It's his choice, now.
As the silence breaks into song, and the multitude of emotions squeezing his chest begin to flow down his cheeks as tears, he finds himself not sad but excited. The past is firmly behind him and the future is alive and well.
Max Maximum | OC | OTA Holiday Wrap-Up
Max arrives loaded down with wrapped gifts and leftover baked goods. His birthday party was only the day before (which is part of why he insisted presents weren't necessary) so he's using this as a great excuse to clear out the rest of the cakes that didn't get eaten. Still pretty tuckered out from all his birthday fun, he's content to sit in the warm glow of friends all around him enjoying good drinks and exchanging warm wishes for the year ahead. This, he thinks to himself happily, has been the best year yet. The one ahead looks even more promising.
[ooc: Max has so many friends and people he loves and he 100% got something nice for all of them so please for my sanity can we handwave the gift exchange? If characters have any positive CR with him at all, they got a thing. That, or Max asked what their favorite dessert was and gave that to them as the gift.]
[Mourning]
He walks in silence among the rest carrying a candle. His mind turns over and over thinking of what's happened. There are so many things to mourn and yet... tonight he feels more hopeful than sad. He spoke to his sister. He got to tell her the truth, finally. She understood. She even forgave him. That's one loss he finally feels at peace with. This time, at least, he got to say goodbye.
That isn't the only old grief he can finally put to bed. All the guilt he's carried for killing Erik's sister has gone. It's become something new but it isn't grief. He isn't sorry anymore. He never should have been in the first place.
Finally, there's Erik, himself. He never imagined his new life would include rekindled friendship with his once Master. Standing up for himself and his relationship with Erik has been the most challenging thing yet, but this still feels right. This is what he wants. It's his choice, now.
As the silence breaks into song, and the multitude of emotions squeezing his chest begin to flow down his cheeks as tears, he finds himself not sad but excited. The past is firmly behind him and the future is alive and well.